GOOSE BREEDING THREAD - for breeding, incubating, hatching and rearing.

[Iain Utah]

That was so sweet of you! What was his deformity? It sounds like you've got a bunch of friendly geese who like their human friends, and a gander who loves you. We're fostering something stronger. Ours will have each other as friends after a week or so, but they will both feel they are more human than they are geese. I know it's a huge undertaking, and that they can't be left alone for even a moment. They think they are getting left behind, or that mom has died if they're alone. It's a terrible shock, and torture for them. We will in no way be doing that. We are keeping just 2 as inside pets. We won't have a gaggle or groups of geese, just the two, each of them imprinted on me and him as mom and dad. We have the time, money, commitment, space, and schedules to accommodate the time they need and make sure they feel safe and secure. I go to school and work from home, and my partner is an author who also works from home. We've set up clear plastic bins in the bedroom, each with their own heating pad, food, water, and blankets, each within view of their respective "moms" because we know they'll have a fit overnight. There will always be one of us here throughout their juvenile time, and once adults, we'll never be goe without them for more than a few hours. By then they'll have each other as pets.

Spirit was born with his right leg rotated 90 degrees outward and foot clubbed and inward. He's been to the vet so often over the past two years, we should have a frequent shopper card. Here we are in the clinic lobby during one of our many trips.


Everything I do for Spirit is with the goal for him to live outside 24/7 with his girlfriend and other goose buddies. To me, the greatest joy of having geese is watching them be geese while still being happy to see me. Geese love being outside, grazing on grass, swimming in water, living in groups, and raising babies. What we bring to the table is safety and easy access to food/water, which allows them to relax and enjoy life more. We strive to break down the instinctive predator/prey barrier, allowing them to form relationships with us as they do with each other.

I understand the uniqueness of having a fully imprinted goose and encourage you to have that experience. But just like people, each goose has an individual personality and some are more confident or even aggressive, while others are shy or aloof. You cannot always force imprinting based on your described method. If I may recommend a different course of action. I would keep all the goslings in a big group and hang with them all. You will observe that some goslings will be more interested in nibbling on you or will want to crawl in your lap to sleep. Those are the ones you want to focus on selecting and handling. Let the relationship and bonding form naturally, not through forced solitary captivity.

 

[flockman]

Spirit was born with his right leg rotated 90 degrees outward and foot clubbed and inward. He's been to the vet so often over the past two years, we should have a frequent shopper card. Here we are in the clinic lobby during one of our many trips.


Everything I do for Spirit is with the goal for him to live outside 24/7 with his girlfriend and other goose buddies. To me, the greatest joy of having geese is watching them be geese while still being happy to see me. Geese love being outside, grazing on grass, swimming in water, living in groups, and raising babies. What we bring to the table is safety and easy access to food/water, which allows them to relax and enjoy life more. We strive to break down the instinctive predator/prey barrier, allowing them to form relationships with us as they do with each other.

I understand the uniqueness of having a fully imprinted goose and encourage you to have that experience. But just like people, each goose has an individual personality and some are more confident or even aggressive, while others are shy or aloof. You cannot always force imprinting based on your described method. If I may recommend a different course of action. I would keep all the goslings in a big group and hang with them all. You will observe that some goslings will be more interested in nibbling on you or will want to crawl in your lap to sleep. Those are the ones you want to focus on selecting and handling. Let the relationship and bonding form naturally, not through forced solitary captivity.

I agree! Very well stated.

 

[SolarPoweredMe]

Spirit was born with his right leg rotated 90 degrees outward and foot clubbed and inward. He's been to the vet so often over the past two years, we should have a frequent shopper card. Here we are in the clinic lobby during one of our many trips.


Everything I do for Spirit is with the goal for him to live outside 24/7 with his girlfriend and other goose buddies. To me, the greatest joy of having geese is watching them be geese while still being happy to see me. Geese love being outside, grazing on grass, swimming in water, living in groups, and raising babies. What we bring to the table is safety and easy access to food/water, which allows them to relax and enjoy life more. We strive to break down the instinctive predator/prey barrier, allowing them to form relationships with us as they do with each other.

I understand the uniqueness of having a fully imprinted goose and encourage you to have that experience. But just like people, each goose has an individual personality and some are more confident or even aggressive, while others are shy or aloof. You cannot always force imprinting based on your described method. If I may recommend a different course of action. I would keep all the goslings in a big group and hang with them all. You will observe that some goslings will be more interested in nibbling on you or will want to crawl in your lap to sleep. Those are the ones you want to focus on selecting and handling. Let the relationship and bonding form naturally, not through forced solitary captivity.

This is amazing! How is he now a days?
I understand the want to be an observer and not an intruder in the lives of animals, and I would love to watch a large group of geese grazing, interacting, and going for a swim. Maybe one day I'll settle down in one place and really take roots like that. You raise some incredibly valid points. And I totally understand what you mean, that every animal is different, and it would be wise to kind of scope all the babies out and choose ones that are more passive. I think I actually proved your point with the little girl I'm keeping as a matter of fact! The little girl I'm keeping is the very first one that hatched. I handled her for a day and a half, put her in with her 2 brothers, and after another day and a half knew she was it for me. She was the only one that would bend her head up and look at me when I change the bedding, feed/water them. It's like she understood me from day one. It didn't matter that she was in with them, she's definitely imprinted on me and is exactly what I wanted. We need geese that are ok, and prefer being with their humans than with a group of geese. From all the research that's been done, and the models that Nancy and others have provided, I feel that it's totally possible to have an inside goose that is A ok with not being in a flock. We will be the flock. Us the parents, and them the kids, siblings to my blood kids. And together we'll be one crazy family. I just ordered grass seed and have been accumulating containers so I can have "green spots" all around the house. They'll have daily outside time of course, and there are 2 kiddie pools waiting. Thanks for being so nice about it and sharing your thoughts with me!

 

[SolarPoweredMe]

Another one hatched!!! One of the eggs we thought was dead in shell proved us wrong!! Another beautiful brown baby. Just one egg left.

 

[Miss Lydia]

Another one hatched!!! One of the eggs we thought was dead in shell proved us wrong!! Another beautiful brown baby. Just one egg left.

Congrats!

 

[DaisyMeadow]

Although we currently have three houses (and three distinct flocks) for our ducks and geese, 45 birds decided to all crowd into the goose house (which normally holds less than 20) last night. I guess the plan was to cuddle to keep warm. They even let the 3 African/Toulouse new ganders into the house, and those three haven't been allowed within a few feet of the rest of the birds yet.

 

[Miss Lydia]

Although we currently have three houses (and three distinct flocks) for our ducks and geese, 45 birds decided to all crowd into the goose house (which normally holds less than 20) last night. I guess the plan was to cuddle to keep warm. They even let the 3 African/Toulouse new ganders into the house, and those three haven't been allowed within a few feet of the rest of the birds yet.

Aww just 1 big happy warm family.

 

[Iain Utah]

Spirit continues to face occasional challenges because of his deformity and is presently recovering from his latest hurdle (bacterial infection in heel bone). But he is perfectly mobile now and living a pretty content life in our spare bedroom with his girlfriend until the snow melts. I have a link in my signature line to a thread that chronicles his journey from day one to present.

Thanks for the nice words and open mind to suggestions. I've raised up quite a few babies during the 2012 and 2013 breeding seasons and they are definitely cherished pets in our family. I'm also glad you are seeing first hand what I mean about different personalities among the goslings. If given the opportunity, it's better to select a gosling after getting to know their personalities. And, they really can be raised together and still see you as parent. It's a win-win for the babies. Congrats on the newest addition!

 

[Mrs. Fluffy Puffy]

I've gotten my first three goose eggs of 2014! First one was laid on the 4th.

Anyone else getting eggs?

~ Aspen

 

[DaisyMeadow]

I've gotten my first three goose eggs of 2014! First one was laid on the 4th.

Anyone else getting eggs?

~ Aspen

I've gotten 4 so far this year. My first season with adult geese, so my first 4 ever! They may have laid more today, but we got so much snow I'd never be able to tell as they've been laying in a nest in the yard.